Power Steering Conversion?

cdansan

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2008
537
0
Northwestern, Vermont
In my driveway you can turn the wheel with fingertips. It will crabwalk downhill across the ground just turning the wheels back and forth.
I used a known length stock belt and with 2 people measured what extra length I needed. Then I bought 3 belts, what I thought I needed and .5" longer and shorter.
It helps to have a decent parts store with decent employees nearby too.
I will wheel it this wekend and see how much better it is.
 
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cdansan

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2008
537
0
Northwestern, Vermont
Dorman 300-130 (5.8172" dia) pulley, $28 from Amazon.
I started with a Dorman 300-200 (6.5" dia) from local parts store.
The donor engine had a 7" crank pully and 5.25" PS pump pulley.
But math told me that with Rover 7.125" crank pulley and 300-200 would turn the pump 10% slower than the donor.

The 6 rib pulley was a blessing in disguise, it gives one groove of adjustment in or out to account for slight pulley alignment error.

If you use a flat plate like mine, it must be reinforced or braced.
Mine will twist visibly when you rev it up, it is currently 2 pieces of scrap 3/16 steel welded together and bolted in 3 places to the head.
Hence the holes in the plate in the first picture, it was a scrap I found on the floor.
 

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
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La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
Same general idea - to spin the p/s pump a little slower than (rover) stock pump. Most GM engines tend to spin slower than Rover's - around 2200-2500 rpm on the highway vs 2900-3300 for the Rover. I also used 5.8" or 5.9" pulley.

Bracket I have is probably a huge overkill - but it won't bend a c.h.
 

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
My only goal in doing something like this would be to simplify the amount of hoses by using an integral reservoir and to increase parts availability. If these pumps are more reliable that a plus too. What I don't want is to reduce access to other components or push too much pressure to my box since I'm only running 235/85/16s. Is this possible to achieve?
 

robertf

Well-known member
Jan 22, 2006
4,780
354
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235s are pretty much a stock size tire.

replace your hoses and pump if necessary. The stock system turns them just fine on my DD.

Why go looking for black swans when you know the factory components will work?
 

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
If it's a more reliable/simple setup, then it's worth it to me. I'm not one of those cheap D1 owners you mentioned.
 

cdansan

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2008
537
0
Northwestern, Vermont
I had my Disco out on the trails today. I was able to steer it easily all day, except when it was bound up on rocks. As soon as I started to move or spin the tires I was able to steer easily again.
I got no pictures from today, forgot the camera.
Maybe I will get some from other people that were there.
 

ndamico

Member
Dec 17, 2015
5
0
california
Bringing up an old thread. Thinking of doing this to my 95 RRC. Running 255x85s now and will be going to 35's. Is there a particular saginaw pump to source that helps fittment? I can make a bracket and source a belt. Will I want to modify the pump from the get go? I see some people spin it slower than the stock rover pump. Is that because it makes more pressure at the Sam rpm?

Thanks
 

robertf

Well-known member
Jan 22, 2006
4,780
354
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my bracket is designed for 85 camaro v8 pump. other vehicle pumps will put the reservoir fill opening at a funny angle

i didnt modify mine and its been good with 35"s for some time

i think ive replaced the factory style pump twice on my other rover in the time ive had the saginaw on this one

i dont know who is spinning it slower, but it flows more so it should be capable of maintaining operating pressure at a lower rpm

im using the factory pulley and belt
 

ndamico

Member
Dec 17, 2015
5
0
california
my bracket is designed for 85 camaro v8 pump. other vehicle pumps will put the reservoir fill opening at a funny angle

i didnt modify mine and its been good with 35"s for some time

i think ive replaced the factory style pump twice on my other rover in the time ive had the saginaw on this one

i dont know who is spinning it slower, but it flows more so it should be capable of maintaining operating pressure at a lower rpm

im using the factory pulley and belt

so this pump, not the one that's angled right?

http://www.rickscamaros.com/camaro-...85-1987.html?gclid=CM2O5P287skCFcZlfgodfqULKw


when you say factory pulley do you mean original rover power steering pulley and used it on the saginaw pump? i didn't think it would be the same shaft size.

thanks!
 

Buddy

Well-known member
Nov 6, 2006
2,839
1
Central NC
my bracket is designed for 85 camaro v8 pump. other vehicle pumps will put the reservoir fill opening at a funny angle

i didnt modify mine and its been good with 35"s for some time

i think ive replaced the factory style pump twice on my other rover in the time ive had the saginaw on this one

i dont know who is spinning it slower, but it flows more so it should be capable of maintaining operating pressure at a lower rpm

im using the factory pulley and belt

Are you selling the brackets? If so how much? Has anybody had issues with their steering box with the higher pressure? I know with my box running 35's, when I really lay into the wheel trying to turn over a rock fluid dumps out of the bottom of the seal. It does not leak otherwise. Yes it's an old box. Original as far as I know. But it only leaks when I really crank on the wheel and the tires are bound up.

I'm also considering hydro assist which I assume this pump would help.
 

robertf

Well-known member
Jan 22, 2006
4,780
354
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it uses a pulley adapter The drawing is in the zip file on the previous page. Take it to a machine shop and have the pulley adapter made and the brackets cut out.
 

ndamico

Member
Dec 17, 2015
5
0
california
duh. i see that now. question- the pulley adapter is elegant but for me harder to make than the brackets which are easy due to what i have access to. with the current pump spacing do you think a regular GM pulley will fit? it would be a lot simpler to ditch the adapter and just use a regular pulley.

it uses a pulley adapter The drawing is in the zip file on the previous page. Take it to a machine shop and have the pulley adapter made and the brackets cut out.
 

robertf

Well-known member
Jan 22, 2006
4,780
354
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switching to 6 rib always seemed half assed to me

itll probably work

dorman sells a off the shelf saginaw pulley for dodge rams that may work. its 7 rib but a bigger diameter than rover. i think 95 ram is the application

a 95 disco belt, 96+ alternator pulley may give you the extra belt length you need for the ram pulley to work on my bracket. then you just trim or lengthen the spacers to adjust for pulley offset